Apparatus for holding stacked trays

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for holding stacked trays includes a cover and a hooking unit. The cover protects an upper surface of the stacked trays. The hooking unit is connected to the cover. The hooking unit is drawn from at least two side surfaces of the cover along the side surfaces of the stacked trays, to hold both lower ends of the stacked trays. Thus, the stacked trays may be easily held only by hooking the hook on the lower end of the stacked trays.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2007-82711, filed on Aug. 17, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Example embodiments relate to an apparatus that may hold stacked trays. More particularly, example embodiments relate to an apparatus that may hold stacked trays in which semiconductor packages may be received.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, various semiconductor fabricating processes may be performed on a wafer to form a plurality of semiconductor chips. In order to mount the semiconductor chips on a printed circuit board (PCB), a packaging process may be performed on the wafer to form semiconductor packages. These semiconductor packages may be received in a tray so as to protect the semiconductor packages from external impacts. Further, the tray in which the semiconductor packages are received may be transferred to process units.

A collective process may be performed on a plurality of the semiconductor packages. Thus, a plurality of the trays in which the semiconductor packages are received may be stacked. The stacked trays may be transferred to the process units.

To prevent the stacked trays from collapsing, the stacked trays may be tied with bands, such as Velcro™ bands. However, it may be difficult to continuously tie and untie such bands. Further, dust may be produced when using such bands, which may adversely affect the semiconductor packages.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments provide an apparatus for holding stacked trays without generating dust.

An apparatus for holding stacked trays in accordance with example embodiments includes a cover and a hooking unit. The cover protects an upper surface of the stacked trays. The hooking unit may be connected to the cover. The hooking unit may be drawn from both side surfaces of the cover along both side surfaces of the stacked trays to hold both lower ends of the stacked trays.

According to example embodiments, the hooking unit may include a pair of drums, belts, a hooking spring and a hook. The drums may be mounted on the cover. The belts may be wound on the drums and drawn from the both side surfaces of the cover along both side surfaces of the stacked trays. The belt may include a dust-free belt. The hooking spring may be interposed between the drums and the belts to provide the belts with a tensile force. The hook may be installed at ends of the belts to hold the both ends of the stacked trays.

Additionally, the hooking unit may further include a hooking block connected to the ends of the belts. The hook may be fixed to the hooking block. The hooking unit may further include a hooking bracket mounted on the hooking block to fix both ends of the hook. The hooking unit may further include a hooking handle installed on the hooking block.

According to example embodiments, the apparatus may further include a locking unit for locking the hooking unit. The locking unit may include a locking housing, two locking bars, a locking spring, a locking button and locking rods. The locking housing may be mounted on the cover. Further, the locking housing has at least two locking grooves arranged in a horizontal direction. The locking bars may be movably received in the locking housing along the horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The locking bars may have inner ends selectively inserted into the locking grooves. The locking spring may be connected between the inner ends of the locking bars. The locking button may be movably inserted into the locking housing along the vertical direction. The locking button may selectively press a portion of the locking spring between the inner ends of the locking bars to release outer ends of the locking bars from the locking grooves. The locking rods may be installed on the locking bars, respectively, to press and lock the hooking unit.

Further, the locking unit may include a first locking protrusion and at least two second locking protrusions. The first locking protrusion may be provided on lower surfaces of the locking rods to press the hooking unit. The second locking protrusions may be arranged alternately with respect to the first locking protrusion under the hooking unit to form a receiving groove for receiving the first locking protrusion and the hooking unit.

According to example embodiments, the stacked trays may be easily held only by hooking the hook, which may be connected to the belt, on the end of the stacked trays. Further, since the belt may be a dust-free belt, dust may not be generated from the belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of example embodiments will become more apparent by describing in detail example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. The accompanying drawings are intended to depict example embodiments and should not be interpreted to limit the intended scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for holding stacked trays in accordance with example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a hooking unit of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the stacked trays held by the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a hook of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are front views illustrating operations for holding the stacked trays in FIG. 6 with the hook in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 10 to 12 are cross-sectional views illustrating a locking unit of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but to the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of example embodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between”, “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent”, etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for holding stacked trays in accordance with example embodiments. FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a hooking unit of the apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a side view of the stacked trays held by the apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a hook of the apparatus in FIG. 1. FIGS. 8 and 9 are front views illustrating operations for holding the stacked trays in FIG. 6 with the hook in FIG. 7. FIGS. 10 to 12 are cross-sectional views illustrating a locking unit of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an apparatus 100 for holding stacked trays in accordance with example embodiments includes a cover 110, a hooking unit 130 and a locking unit 150.

The cover 110 may act to cover an upper surface of the stacked trays 200. In example embodiments, each of the stacked trays 200 may receive a plurality of semiconductor packages. With reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, a holding protrusion 210 may be formed at both side surfaces of each of the stacked trays 200 along a horizontal direction. A holding groove 212 may be formed at a lower surface of the holding protrusion 210 of the stacked trays 200.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 4, each of the stacked trays 200 may have a rectangular cross-section. Thus, the cover 110 may have a rectangular cross-section. The cover 110 may make contact with the upper surface of the stacked trays 200. In example embodiments, the cover 110 may have an area slightly larger than that of the upper surface of the stacked trays 200. Further, the cover 110 may have a flange 112 configured to cover upper edges of the stacked trays 200.

The hooking unit 130 may be provided to attach to the cover 110. The hooking unit 130 supports both side surfaces of the stacked trays 200, while also fixing both lower ends of the stacked trays 200 to prevent the stacked trays 200 from collapsing while the stacked trays 200 are transferred. The hooking unit 130 may include a pair of drums 131, a belt 132, hooking springs 133, and hooks 136.

The drums 131 may be located in the cover 110. The drums 131 may be fixed to a vertical shaft (not shown) that may be secured to the cover 110 along a vertical direction. A drum cover 138 may cover the drums 131. The belt 132 may be wound on the drums 131, respectively. The hooking springs 133 may be arranged in the drums 131, and the hooking springs 133 may be connected to belt 132 to resiliently support belt 132 toward the drums 131. Thus, a tensile force may be applied to belt 132 by the hooking springs 133.

A belt 132 may be drawn from the both side surfaces of the cover 110. The length of belt 132 may be adjusted in accordance with a height of the stacked trays 200. Further, belt 132 may be drawn downwardly along at least both side surfaces of the stacked trays 200, such that two belts 132 are supporting the stacked trays 200. Alternatively, more than two belts 132 may be used to support at least two side surfaces of stacked trays 200. In example embodiments, belt 132 may include a dust-free belt from which dust may not be generated.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, hooking blocks 134 may be installed on lower ends of belt 132. A pair of hooking brackets 135 may be mounted on the inner surfaces of the hooking blocks 134. Both ends of the hooks 136 may be secured to hooking brackets 135. In other words, the hook 136 may be one elongated bar that runs horizontally along the length of hooking block 134. In example embodiments, the hooks 135 may be three in numbers. However, the number of hooks 135 need not be restricted to three in number. The hooks 136 may enter between the holding protrusions 210 of the stacked trays 200, and allowing the hooks 136 to then be held in the holding groove 212. Because belt 132 offers vertical tensile force due to the hooking springs 133, the hooks 136 in the holding grooves 212 may not slip out of holding grooves 212.

Additionally, hooking handles 137 may be formed on outer side surfaces of the hooking blocks 134. Thus, a worker may easily draw belt 132 down by grasping the hooking handles 137, in order to secure the hooking block 134 to the stacked trays 200.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, the locking unit 150 locks the belt 132 to maintain the hooks 136 in the holding grooves 212. The locking unit 150 includes a locking housing 151, a pair of locking bars 154 and 155, a locking spring 156, a locking button 157 and locking rods 158.

The locking housing 151 may be installed on the cover 110. The locking housing 151 includes a pair of vertical locking rods 158 arranged at both sides of the upper surface of the cover 110, as the locking housing 151 runs horizontally along the upper surface of cover 110 between the vertical locking rods 158. At least two locking grooves 152 and 153 may be formed vertically along inner side surfaces of the locking housing 151. The locking housing 151 may allow for an opening to exist between the locking housing 151 and the cover 110.

The locking bars 154 and 155 may be received in hollow inner spaces along the horizontal plane of the locking housing 151. The locking bars 154 and 155 may be movably arranged in the horizontal portion, in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Each of the locking bars 154 and 155 may have outer ends selectively inserted into either of locking grooves 152 and 153, and inner ends adjacent to each other. Therefore, a gap may be defined between the inner ends of locking bars 154 and 155.

Both ends of the locking spring 156 may be wound on the inner ends of the locking bars 154 and 155. Thus, the inner ends of the locking bars 154 and 155 may be connected to each other via a connecting portion 170 of the locking springs 156. The connecting portion 170 of the locking springs 156 may have a linear shape.

A locking button 157 may be movably inserted into an upper surface of locking housing 151, along a vertical direction. The locking button 157 selectively presses down on the connecting portion 170 of the locking springs 156, such that insertion of the locking button 157 may cause the connecting portion 170 to pull locking bars 154 and 155 toward each other. Withdrawal of locking button 157 releases tension on connecting portion 170, allowing locking springs 156 to press the locking bars 154 and 155 into locking grooves 152 or 153. Thus, the locking bars 154 and 155 may be moved along the vertical direction from either groove 152 or 153, by pressing and releasing locking button 157.

The locking rods 158 may be installed on the outer ends of the locking bars 154 and 155. The locking rods 158 extend from the locking bars 154 and 155 to a lower region where belt 132 may be positioned.

An upper locking plate 161 may be mounted on lower surfaces of the locking rods 158. A lower locking plate 162 may be arranged on a bottom surface of the cover 110. The upper locking plate 161 and the lower locking plate 162 may be configured to engage either side of belt 132. At least one first locking protrusion 159 may be provided on a lower surface of the upper locking plate 161. At least two second locking protrusions 160 may be provided on an upper surface of the lower locking plate 162. Thus, a receiving groove 163 may be formed between the second locking protrusions 160, along the first locking protrusion 159 to snuggly fit inside groove 163. The locking bars 154 and 155 may be received in the upper locking groove 152, thereby allowing a gap between upper locking plate 161 and lower locking plate 162 to allow belts 132 to pass through. The first locking protrusion 159 and the second locking protrusions 160 may be alternately arranged so that the first locking protrusion 159 is configured to press belt 132, such that locking protrusion 159 then is received in the receiving groove 163 between the second locking protrusions 160 together with the belts 132.

Hereinafter, operations for holding the stacked trays 200 using the apparatus 100 will be explained in detail.

The cover 110 may be placed on the stacked trays 200. A user may draw the hooking handles 137 to draw belts 132 over both side surfaces of the stacked trays 200. The hooking handles 137 may therefore be moved to a lower region of the stacked trays 200. The hooks 136 may be inserted into the holding protrusions 210 of the stacked trays 200. When an external force applied to the hooking handles 137 is removed, the hooks 136 may be held in the grooves 212 by the tensile force of the belts 132. The tensile force may be upwardly applied to belt 132 by the hooking springs 133. When an external force greater than the tensile force of the belt 132 is applied to the hooks 136, the hooks 136 may be released from the holding grooves 212. Therefore, hooks 136 may firmly support the lower end of the stacked trays 200, while belts 132 may support at least two side surfaces of the stacked trays 200, to ensure that the stacked trays 200 do not collapse while being transferred.

A user may press the locking button 157, which in turn causes tension on the connecting portion 170 of locking springs 156, allowing the locking bars 154 and 155 to be pulled toward each other. As a result, the outer ends of the locking bars 154 and 155 may be released from the upper locking groove 152, as shown in FIG. 10.

While the locking button 157 is continuously pressed, the locking bars 154 and 155 may descend to the next set of locking grooves 153. Thus, the locking rods 158 may descend together with locking bars 154 and 155, to cause the first locking protrusion 159 to press on the belts 132. The first locking protrusion 159 and belt 132 may be received in the receiving groove 163 between the second locking protrusions 160. When an external force is removed from the locking button 157, tension on the connecting portion 170 of locking springs 156 is released. This allows locking springs 156 to push the outer ends locking bars 154 and 155 into lower locking grooves 153, such that the locking bars 154 and 155 may then be locked in a vertical direction. As a result, a portion of belt 132 may be firmly fixed, such that belt 132 may then firmly hold the lower end of the stacked trays 200.

In example embodiments, the trays 200 held by the apparatus 100 may receive semiconductor packages. Alternatively, the apparatus 100 may be applied to the trays 200 for receiving other parts.

According to example embodiments, the stacked trays may be easily held with belts only by hooking the hook on the holding protrusion of stacked trays. Further, the length of the belts may be adjusted in accordance with the height of the stacked trays, so that it may cope with height changes of the belts. Furthermore, the belts may be firmly fixed by pressing the locking button. As a result, the stacked trays may be transferred without the trays collapsing.

Moreover, since the belt may include a dust-free belt, dust which may otherwise adversely affect the semiconductor package may not be generated from the belt.

Example embodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the intended spirit and scope of example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An apparatus for holding stacked trays, comprising: a cover configured to cover an upper surface of the stacked trays; and a hooking unit attached to the cover, the hooking unit configured to be drawn from side surfaces of the cover to run along side surfaces of the stacked trays and hook into lower ends of the stacked trays.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hooking unit comprises: a pair of drums, the drums configured to attach to the cover; belts wound on the drums, the belts configured to be drawn from side surfaces of the cover; hooking springs located in the drums, the hooking springs configured to impart a tensile force on the belts; and hooks provided on the ends of the belts, the hooks configured to hook into the lower ends of the stacked trays.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hooking unit further comprises: hooking blocks on the ends of the belts, the hooks affixed to the hooking blocks.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hooking unit further comprises: hooking brackets mounted on the hooking blocks, the hooking brackets configured to fix both ends of the hooks.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hooking unit further comprises: hooking handles mounted on the hooking blocks.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the belts are dust-free belts.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a locking unit for locking the hooking unit.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the locking unit comprises: a locking housing on the cover, the locking housing having at least two locking grooves are arranged along a vertical direction; two locking bars movably received in the locking housing, the locking bars movable in the vertical direction and a horizontal direction, the locking bars having outer ends configured to selectively insert into the locking grooves; locking springs connected to inner ends of the locking bars, the locking springs connected to each other by a connecting portion; a locking button movably inserted into the locking housing in the vertical direction, the locking button selectively pressing on the connecting portion of the locking springs to release the outer ends of the locking bars from the locking grooves; and locking rods mounted on the locking bars, the locking rods configured to press on and lock the hooking unit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the locking unit further comprises: a first locking protrusion provided on a lower surface of the locking rods, the first locking protrusion configured to press on the hooking unit; and at least two second locking protrusions located below the hooking unit, the at least two second locking protrusions configured to form a receiving groove in which the first locking protrusion and the hooking unit are received.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the stacked trays, wherein the stacked trays are configured to receive semiconductor packages, the stacked trays including holding protrusions formed at the side surfaces of the stacked trays, the holding protrusions configured to allow the hooking unit to hook into the protrusions.
 11. An apparatus for holding stacked trays, the stacked trays configured to receive semiconductor package trays and having holding protrusions formed at side surfaces of the trays; comprising: a cover configured to cover an upper surface of the stacked trays; a pair of drums installed on the cover; belts wound on the drums, the belts configured to be selectively drawn from side surfaces of the cover along side surfaces of the stacked trays; hooking springs located in the drums, the hooking springs configured to impart a tensile force on the belts; hooks provided on the ends of the belts, the hooks configured to hook into the lower ends of the stacked trays; a locking housing on the cover, the locking housing having at least two locking grooves are arranged along a vertical direction; two locking bars movably received in the locking housing, the locking bars movable in the vertical direction and a horizontal direction, the locking bars having outer ends configured to selectively insert into the locking grooves; locking springs connected to inner ends of the locking bars, the locking springs connected to each other by a connecting portion; a locking button movably inserted into the locking housing in the vertical direction, the locking button selectively pressing on the connecting portion of the locking springs to release the outer ends of the locking bars from the locking grooves; and locking rods mounted on the locking bars, the locking rods configured to press on and lock the hooking unit.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: hooking blocks on the ends of the belts, the hooks affixed to the hooking blocks.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: hooking brackets mounted on the hooking blocks, the hooking brackets configured to fix both ends of the hooks.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: hooking handles mounted on the hooking blocks.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a first locking protrusion provided on a lower surface of the locking rods, the first locking protrusion configured to press on the hooking unit; and at least two second locking protrusions located below the hooking unit, the at least two second locking protrusions configured to form a receiving groove in which the first locking protrusion and the hooking unit are received.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the belts are dust-free belts.
 17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one belt is provided for each drum, the belts being configured to be drawn along opposing sides of the stacked trays.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one belt is provided for each drum, the belts being configured to be drawn along opposing sides of the stacked trays. 